Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR ij Finishing this rustic repast, we once more set to work digging and strewing soil until the fire seemed in its last stages. Then we reclined on the pine needles a short distance away, and were pass- ing the time pleasantly by conversation, when a sudden crackling brought us to our feet. What presented itself to us was a fire on the other side of the clearing, sweeping quickly into a low under- brush. Snatching our fir boughs, we put in ten minutes solid work, and at the end of that time we saw with relief that we were the masters. W e kept more careful watch the remain Itr of thr after- noon, putting out many small fires which t' e wind created. At five o'clock I returned home and had a hearty supper. Then, strapping a hammock and a coup1 e of blankets to my back, taking my sweater, a lan- tern, and a pail of food. I went back to relieve AI that he might go home to his supper. On h's ic- tum, by coming 'way around, he was able to get very near with a team, bringing three wash b !lcrs full of water. This he brought that we ni ght more easily put out any fire that might arise dur- ing the night, for it was thought unsafe to leave the place over night. We hung the hammock between two trees and the lanterns one on either side of it. and then re- sorted to a pack of cards. The three of us. for my young brother had joined us for the night, were enjoving ourselves, when a flicker and then a hurst of flame sent us to the other side with water. It was a small blaze, but looked the fiercer because of the surrounding blackness. Thus we s;:c it ti c time until ten o'clock, when my two compairons, one in the hammock and one on a bed of pi e needles, wrapped themselves in their l ankets and were soon asleep. Left alone I wrapped myself in my blankets, and sat leaning against a tree, from whence I could sur- vey the burnt district. I was companionless in a black wood, except for a pack of cards, the heavy breathing of my comrades, and the thought that less than a hundred yards from my resting place a man had committed suicide. Thus 1 remaiuc 1. expecting to see accompanying every crackle of the hushes a new flame. But twelve o’clock ar- rived, and no fire had appeared. I now awakened mv companions, and we had our midnight meal. It was extremely cold for that time of year, and those who came forth from their warm blankets felt it keenly, and wrapped their blankets arorn 1 their shoulders. Stepping aside. I was reni n led of a Valley Forge picture of soldiers thus w rapped up. eating by lantern light. It was now my turn to sleep, and I was quickly slumbering, while A1 took up the watch. Ah. ut one o’clock a fire broke out on the edge, which would have proved disastrous to the woods had we not been there. About two the wind l ad s d'ed that little danger was left from blazes, so we a1! turned in. sleeping soundly until four. Then ?n t' c gray light of the dawn we put the remaining water on such places as still smoked, an 1 hurried home, a miserable looking trio. But soap and water, fresh clothes, and a good breakfast soon brought u around again. We returned that afternoon, hut found every- thing as we left it. Thus ended one of the mest stirring and pleasant experiences of my vacation. After careful consideration, we concluded that the fire had been set l force A1 into selling h's timber, which would have been hut little damaged if cut at once. However, as we had no proof against the man of whom we suspecte I the act, nothing coidd be done. Hn tbe Sbabe of tbe 0lt Kpple Xivee paroDE In? Xoufs I. In the shade of the apple tree, Where the birds and the bees sing with gl e. And the blossoms so sweet, [Mus the absence of beat. Seem to weave fairy charms over me. Since I know of a place just like that. You may bet your old hoots to a hat 1 will go right away To spend one pleasant day In the shade of the old apple tree. 1 tppo, '09 II. In the shade of the old apple tree: ’Cause 1 came out of season, you see. There were no blossoms there,— But the ants in my hair Seem’d to take a kind interest in me! (X !) I just happened, quite sudden, you know. ( )n the home of a hornet or so— So I guess I ’ll not stay Any ionger to-day In the shade of the old apple tree!

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12 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR to see what lias happened.. The trunk of the mas- sive oak is split from branch to root by a great white gash, but what is that black thing? Doesn’t he see something there near the roots? The next Hash confirms this; there surely is something there. Groping along, he runs his hand down the gash. Ah. what is that cold thing his hand touches? A metal; a handle to it; a leek; It s a box: a small box. l y Gracious! It’s grand- father’s money! It's the fen thousand dollars! Jftgbting a jforcet jfire By Hustin lPalmer, B., '09 SAY, Al, what’s all that smoke up there in your timber lot?’’ I don't know. Isn’t it Charles burning brush up in his pasture?” ‘‘No! He wouldn’t be burning brush in a wind like this. We’d better go up.” ‘‘1 guess you're right. 'file scene was that of an old solitary farmhouse on the side of one of New I lampshire’s stately hills. About 200 yards back of the house was a thick pine wood, from the heart of which a cloud of smoke was arising. This timber lot and the farm were the property of a young man locally known as Al, who during this conversation was sit- ting on a mowing machine in a field to the left of the house. This was where 1 spent my summe; vacation, and on the present occasion I was in the house reading. The person who had addressed the young pioprietor was a man who, with his two companions, was setting a telephone pole directly opposite the house. On hearing the cry of fire. I quickly joined them. Al left his horse standing in the field, the men left the pole half set. for they all realized that a fire in that dry season, with the wind sweeping at terrific rate toward the buildings, would mean great loss if it once gained headway, for it must take in the village, which was directly in its path and only a mile away. Running across the inter- vening opening, we plunged into a dense growth of underbrush which had grown up under the lofty pines.- After traveling a half-mile and getting se- verely scratched by the bushes, we found ourselves face to face with a dense cloud of smoke. A f.w more steps showed us (lames rushing up twenty- five feet into the pines. I was at a loss to know what to do. but seeing the men cutting evergreen branches. I quickly followed suit, and with these began beating out the Hames. The fire was burning in an open circle about an eighth of a mile in diameter. 'I he Hames were two and three feet high, except in one place, where the dead leaves and needles were feeding the Hames into the boughs of the pines. We began work, but it seemed almost impossible to check it. Soon wc heard shouts in the woods, and men kept arriving until we numbered about a doz.ti and a half. Although we put out the Hames, the heart of the fire would still smoulder on in the six inch coat of needles and leaves, and readily ! laz forth at the least call of the wind. As there was no water near, the only thing to do was to dig dry earth and strew it over the smoking earth. This, one can imagine, was no little task, for practically every foot of that quarter of an acre was smoking and smouldering. While part of us kept down the blaze, the others were steadily throwing on gravel. Thus in the course of an hour the fire was under control, and the men all left, planning to come back if the smoke increased. Then we two, Al and my- self. were left alone to guard this smoking and smouldering mass. We were kept busy putt ng out the small Hames that insisted on breaking out, and shoveling dirt on the smoking stumps. We had entered the woods at half-past ten, and it was now a little after noon. Shortly our dinner arrived, sent by my companion’s mother. We were a pretty spectacle as we sat there on a log. our hands and faces more black than white, our eyes swollen and red. and our clothes ragged and burned- The last touch was added to this picture when we took the meat and potatoes in « ur grimy hands and devoured them as only • nc can who Ins had strenuous exercise in the invigorating fores air. This last touch was made necessary by our kind provider’s forgetfulness in sending rs silve:- ware. I'ive times during the meal we were inter- rupted to extinguish Hames.

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14 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR B.O.W. ’ox '09 Allison Newton, Class Editor. The adage, A good beginning makes a bad end- ing.’ is a dead letter, as you well know, prudent classmates. Rather for you is that most excellent saying, “All’s well that ends well,” for in one sense we are both beginning and ending this year. So let us begin well, that we may end well. Long live our class of '09, Long live her gallant name. So may she be the best of all, And ever known to fame. Teacher (to Miss W—lb—r, scanning): “Where’s the pause?” Miss W—lb—r: It’s all pauses.” Every Thursday the German scholars like to air their German. It certainly needs it. Teacher: Well, what is a man of letters?” Sh—r—dan : The mail man.” Was that merely coincidence. Miss 15—It? “WHERE DII) YOU GET IT. GENTLEMEN? 11—nd—rs—n : The hat. “'Dick”: The socks. D—gg—n : The bucolic diaeresis. Teacher: What is the most remarkable thing about Greek?” Pupil: ‘ M—ldo—n’s translations.” Muldoon he studies fiercely His lessons day and night, That’s why they sound ferocious When he stands up to recite. At the annual meeting of the A. A. our class- mates. “Ned Garland and Eliot Slater, were chosen respectively for president and baseball man- ager. Garland, after his election, conducted the meeting with great dignity, straightening out a knotty point of order which the Hon. Kirkpatrick saw fit to raise. Heard in Greek 2:— Teacher: Is there any one absent?” Pupil: No; if there was there wouldn’t be any one here.” X—1—ti says he always has his lessons. In the book, he means. First Pupil (translating French conversation): ‘ Have you an ache in the head?” Second Pupil: No, M------. a pain in the neck.” Br—wn’s invariable rule for gender: “Some are masculine, some arc feminine.” Teacher (translating Virgil): And lie placed garlands on his brow.” Garland (from back of room): What, sir?” In Henderson’s desk there was a hat. On top of which were books; When some one on the cover sat, It spoilt the hat’s good looks. Why is Robertson like a furnace?—Hot air. A consistent conversation in English, according to Mrs. G.:— First Boy: I have had a hair cut.” Second Boy: “Why haven’t you had them all cut?” A notice concerning the school orchestra asks for players of wind instruments. What’s the mat- ter with II—nd—rs—n? Teacher (in Latin): Have you a picture of this in your mind?” Bright Pupil: Maybe, but it’s a chromo.” It is rumored that in Room 21 the teacher started to read the Greek Composition” in the morning exercises. Miss M—cv. in translating, says: The triple youths row.” Does she mean triplets? Mac-----says: “In my division there are only my friend—a boy—and I, and twenty-three other girls.” There was a boy who said: I don’t care W’hcther it rains or whether it’s fair.” So he sat in his seat. And scuffled his feet, W hile running his fingers around through his hair. Who’s the boy? We “now take the opportunity to apologize for some of this verse!!! Thank goodness it isn’t all ours! We have also refrained from twitting on facts, and have in no way been held to them. We have used the names of those only who are jokes” anyway, and shouldn’t care.